COLOGNE, Germany -- The organizers of the 2019 euvend & coffeena report that this year’s event reinforced the show’s stature as an important platform for business and networking in the vending and office refreshments industry. The show, sponsored by the German vending association BDV (Bundesverband der Deutschen Vending-Automatenwirgtschaft e.V.) and managed by Kölnmesse, attracted some 4,200 trade visitors from 66 countries. Nearly 40% of exhibitors and visitors came from countries other than Germany.

“The continual growth in the number of trade visitors and exhibitors from abroad confirms the standing of euvend & coffeena as the industry’s most important business platform,” said Anne Schumacher, vice-president of food and food technology for Kölnmesse GmbH. “We also set benchmarks in terms of the quality and diversity of the offer with regards to the current and future trends and innovations.”

Karl-Heinz Blum, spokesman for the BDV board, agreed. “The industry is very satisfied with this year’s event,” he said. “The trade fair is an important source of inspiration for the entire vending and office coffee service sector. Whether regarding vending technology or in the sections payment and sustainable cup solutions, the new and innovative ideas and concepts will contribute positively towards the development of the sector.”

Kölnmesse cited an independent survey that found just under 82% of exhibitors were satisfied with the business already at the show. Some 80% would recommend a partner company to participate in euvend & coffeena.

According to registration figures, about 40% of showgoers came from other countries, an increase of 3% in foreign visitors compared with the 2017 show.

In particular, an increased number of visitors registered from the Netherlands, Ukraine, Hungary, Spain and Poland. Interested parties from China, Chile, Israel, Japan and South Africa were also recorded in Cologne. Big buyers such as Autobahn Tank & Rast, Compass Group, Deutsche Post, Dorint, Eurest, Eurowings, Fraport, Geile, Lekkerland, Real, Rewe, Selecta, Sodexo and Volkswagen attended the show. In the office coffee service sector, euvend & coffeena welcomed visitors from companies like Coffee at Work, Coffee Perfect, Kaffee Partner and Seeberger.

OCS is a growth market, and office refreshment was a major theme at this year’s show. Under the keyword “New Work” and with emphasis on the related changing worlds of work and the development of collaborative working areas, the 2019 program highlighted the increasingly important task of providing employees and customers with refreshments. Aspects of this trend could be experienced in an “Office Coworking Lab” special zone in the exhibit area.

In the extensive payment section of the exhibit, digital solutions like contact-free payment by “girocard” (debit cards) and smartphones took center stage.

Machine-based kiosk solutions (micromarkets) were also more strongly represented at euvend & coffeena this year. These are self-service shop systems in which the goods are not offered in vending machines, but in conventional shelves and refrigerated display cases. Payment is made by automated cash register systems.

The conference program “Visions of Vending: The Future of Vending” also addressed these trend themes. Industry experts provided answers to important questions on topics including “New Work,” new retail and market developments abroad, taking China as the example.

Vending Star 2019

Since 2007, Kölnmesse as the organizer and BDV as the industry sponsor of the trade show have been awarding the Vending Star to the industry’s best innovations. This year’s award ceremony was held during the euvend & coffeena Night.

The winners are:

>> Technical Devices: SandenVendo German Branch of Sanden International (Europe) Ltd. for its G Snack Evolution.

Koelnmesse and the German Vending Association e.V. (BDV) as the industry sponsor of the trade fair, have decided to stage euvend & coffeena every two years, co-locating with Orgatec as an independent trade fair. By doing so, euvend & coffeena organizers said they are enhancing their strategic alignment and will in the future become the leading international trade fair for vending and office coffee service. Orgatec is a trade show highlighting office design, furnishings and workplace organization. It is sponsored by Germany's Interior Business Association (Industrieverband Büro und Arbeitswelt e.V.) and was first staged in 1953.

In accordance with the new alignment, the next euvend & coffeena is scheduled to take place in Cologne from Oct. 29 to Oct. 31, 2020. The co-located Orgatec show will begin on October 27.